Oh how we love a bit of history and this is exactly what you get with ribbed knit fabric - it dates back to the 5th century!

Rib knit is a form of knit fabric that is made by knitting with two needles to make a fabric that has textured lines running vertically. 

Ribbed knits include wales, which are also known as vertical rows of stitches, that create ribs on both the face and the back of the fabric, giving the impression that the two sides of the fabric are the same.

Ribbed knits are often composed of one hundred percent cotton but they may also be made of spandex, rayon and wool.